President Muhammadu Buhari today, flagged-off the Kolmani River Well-II, constructed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to kick start commercial oil drilling and exploration prospect in Nigeria’s inland basin. He flagged off the process at about 10.30 am by pressing a button that assigned for that purpose. Gen Buhari believes the flag-off opened a new chapter in the quest for commercial hydrocarbon deposits in the nation’s inland basins. The Kolmani River ll is a site located between Gombe and Bauchi States. The site is under the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Today’s event which was termed Spud-in of Kolmani River 11 was performed by the President Buhari alongside NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Maikanti Kachalla Baru.
‘Spud-in’ is a process of beginning to drill a well in the oil and gas industry by removing rocks, dirt and other sedimentary materials with the drill bill
The drilling of the Kolmani River-II well is expected to increase crude oil and gas reserves and production as well as intensify the search for petroleum resources in the nation’s inland basins.
NNPC believes that the aggressive exploration of the Inland Basins being driven by the Corporation would soon yield success with hydrocarbon finds in commercial quantity.
Baru said the Spud-in Of Kolmani River Well-II Is on track in respect of its 12 key business focus areas (BUFA), and the vision of President Buhari to improve the status oil and gas infrastructure through ensuring products availability to support national economic.
He said the NNPC efforts in finding and exploring oil and gas in commercial quantity is yielding result following the mandate given to the corporation by the president in 2016 to use appropriate technology to achieve the goal. Oil exploration and drilling is a long term project, he said, which requires patience.
According Baru, initial efforts at exploring and drilling of oil in the inland basin which covers the Nassarawa, Anambra, Plateau, Dahomey, Benue basin and Taraba Through was suspended in July 2017 following the attack on workers on the field by terrorists.
At the flag-off ceremony, President Buhari said Nigeria still need a virile oil industry to take care of the need of the moment and prepare for the future. He said oil exploration in “our frontier basins is of national importance”, and the efforts must continue.
